Popular businesswoman, Folorunsho Alakija, flaunts her faith in God in her new book titled His Name is, writes AKEEM LASISI.
When celebrated businesswoman, Folorunso
Alakija, set out to visit Ghana in December 2015, all that was on her
mind was to receive an award from a church, Action Chapel
International. But by the time she was leaving the West African country,
she was already pregnant with the idea of a new book.
Alakija, set out to visit Ghana in December 2015, all that was on her
mind was to receive an award from a church, Action Chapel
International. But by the time she was leaving the West African country,
she was already pregnant with the idea of a new book.
A part of the perks of the award was a
tapestry presented to her. She found the stuff so wonderful that she
spontaneously wrapped herself in it, right there on the stage. On the
tapestry were several names of God and that became a source of
inspiration for her to write what recently came out as one of her new
books, His Name is…, subtitled as Over 2000 Names of My God.
tapestry presented to her. She found the stuff so wonderful that she
spontaneously wrapped herself in it, right there on the stage. On the
tapestry were several names of God and that became a source of
inspiration for her to write what recently came out as one of her new
books, His Name is…, subtitled as Over 2000 Names of My God.
She notes in the introductory part of
the work, “I excitedly wrapped it around myself in the presence of at
least 10,000 people. The names of God inscribed on it had made my heart
miss a beat that led to faster beats! The die was cast and I knew what
to do next.”
the work, “I excitedly wrapped it around myself in the presence of at
least 10,000 people. The names of God inscribed on it had made my heart
miss a beat that led to faster beats! The die was cast and I knew what
to do next.”
The 110-page book presents the author as
someone eager to establish the awesomeness, universality and
extraordinary beauties of the God she believes in. This she does by
celebrating Him with names that seek to define and redefine His
attributes. While some of the nomenclatures are familiar – like
Emmanuel, Jehovah and Great Shepherd – others are simply novel. These
include Diadem of Beauty, Door, Last Adam, Lawgiver and Avenger.
someone eager to establish the awesomeness, universality and
extraordinary beauties of the God she believes in. This she does by
celebrating Him with names that seek to define and redefine His
attributes. While some of the nomenclatures are familiar – like
Emmanuel, Jehovah and Great Shepherd – others are simply novel. These
include Diadem of Beauty, Door, Last Adam, Lawgiver and Avenger.
Yet, what many may find more intriguing
is the author’s decision to present many of the names in several African
languages. These include Yoruba (Adaratan – The one who is Completely
Good – and Eri Ailopin – Endless Testimony); , Ibibio (Abasi Afid Abuk –
God of All Flesh – and Abasi Mbom Mmi – God of my Mercy); Igbo (Oje Na
Mmuo – He that Works in the Spirit – and Oputa Obie – The Beginning and
the End); and Hausa (Tushen Rai – Author of Life as well as Uba Madu
Kaki – Father of Glory.
is the author’s decision to present many of the names in several African
languages. These include Yoruba (Adaratan – The one who is Completely
Good – and Eri Ailopin – Endless Testimony); , Ibibio (Abasi Afid Abuk –
God of All Flesh – and Abasi Mbom Mmi – God of my Mercy); Igbo (Oje Na
Mmuo – He that Works in the Spirit – and Oputa Obie – The Beginning and
the End); and Hausa (Tushen Rai – Author of Life as well as Uba Madu
Kaki – Father of Glory.
While Ghanaian languages are not left
out, others in which Alakija presents the names of her God are Spanish,
French, Filipino, Indonesia, Italian, Zulu and Swahili.
out, others in which Alakija presents the names of her God are Spanish,
French, Filipino, Indonesia, Italian, Zulu and Swahili.
His Name is comes in a very colourful
gloss – ostensibly not only to reflect the beauty of the God being
celebrated but also the author’s social class. It is flecked with
impressive pictorial images of roaring waters, forests and mountains.
With these, the writer seems to be giving all to her creator.
gloss – ostensibly not only to reflect the beauty of the God being
celebrated but also the author’s social class. It is flecked with
impressive pictorial images of roaring waters, forests and mountains.
With these, the writer seems to be giving all to her creator.
There have been many publications and
musical works on the names of God. But apart from the high quality of
production, the excursion into many languages makes the effort of
Alakija, described by Forbes as second richest African woman, novel. She
traces each name to a biblical scripture or verse, so that even when
some names may sound odd – like Avenger – the author pins this down to a
biblical reference.
musical works on the names of God. But apart from the high quality of
production, the excursion into many languages makes the effort of
Alakija, described by Forbes as second richest African woman, novel. She
traces each name to a biblical scripture or verse, so that even when
some names may sound odd – like Avenger – the author pins this down to a
biblical reference.
Of course, as Archbishop Nicholas
Duncan-Williams notes in the foreword, Alakija goes beyond just
highlighting the names. In chapters one and two, she delves into the
question of who God is and what she calls the power in the name of God.
Duncan-Williams notes in the foreword, Alakija goes beyond just
highlighting the names. In chapters one and two, she delves into the
question of who God is and what she calls the power in the name of God.
Duncan-Williams notes, “The book was
written from deep wells of wisdom and birthed by a woman of God who has
travailed and triumphed in prayer.”
written from deep wells of wisdom and birthed by a woman of God who has
travailed and triumphed in prayer.”